Doc 1: Practice Questions for Abstract Reasoning | Abstract Reasoning for UCAT PDF Download

Abstract Reasoning assesses your ability to identify patterns amongst abstract shapes where irrelevant and distracting material may lead to incorrect conclusions. The test therefore measures your ability to change track, critically evaluate and generate hypotheses and requires you to query judgements as you go along.
You are presented with questions associated with sets of shapes. There are four different question types in this subtest.
Most questions are shown in sets of five, each connected to the same sets of shapes. There are some questions that are standalone. Each question has three or four answer options. You may only select one response. You may be asked to:

• decide whether an example shape belongs to Shape Set A, Shape Set B or Neither;
• select the next shape in a series;
•  determine which shape completes a statement;
• decide which shape belongs to a particular Shape Set.

Q.1. You will be presented with two sets of shapes labelled “Set A” and “Set B”. You will be given a test shape and asked to decide whether the test shape belongs to Set A, Set B, or Neither.

Q.

(a) Set A
(b) Set B
(c) Neither

Correct Answer is Option (a)
Set A: There are 5 squares in a diagonal. If there is a black circle to the right of a square then the next square down the diagonal is the previous square rotated by 90°clockwise.
Set B: There are 5 squares in a diagonal. If there is a black circle to the right of a square then the next square down the diagonal is the previous square rotated by 90° anticlockwise.
Correct option is A: Two clockwise turns in the correct place.

Q.2. You will be presented with two sets of shapes labelled “Set A” and “Set B”. You will be given a test shape and asked to decide whether the test shape belongs to Set A, Set B, or Neither.

Q.

(a) Set A
(b) Set B
(c) Neither

Correct Answer is Option (a)
Set A: There are 5 squares in a diagonal. If there is a black circle to the right of a square then the next square down the diagonal is the previous square rotated by 90°clockwise.
Set B: There are 5 squares in a diagonal. If there is a black circle to the right of a square then the next square down the diagonal is the previous square rotated by 90° anticlockwise.
Correct response: A - Two clockwise turns in the correct place.

Q.3. You will be presented with two sets of shapes labelled “Set A” and “Set B”. You will be given a test shape and asked to decide whether the test shape belongs to Set A, Set B, or Neither.

Q.

(a) Set A
(b) Set B
(c) Neither

Correct Answer is Option (c)
Set A: There are 5 squares in a diagonal. If there is a black circle to the right of a square then the next square down the diagonal is the previous square rotated by 90°clockwise.
Set B: There are 5 squares in a diagonal. If there is a black circle to the right of a square then the next square down the diagonal is the previous square rotated by 90° anticlockwise.
Correct response: C - One clockwise and one anticlockwise turn.

Q.4. You will be presented with two sets of shapes labelled “Set A” and “Set B”. You will be given a test shape and asked to decide whether the test shape belongs to Set A, Set B, or Neither.

Q.

(a) Set A
(b) Set B
(c) Neither

Correct Answer is Option (b)
Set A: There are 5 squares in a diagonal. If there is a black circle to the right of a square then the next square down the diagonal is the previous square rotated by 90°clockwise.
Set B: There are 5 squares in a diagonal. If there is a black circle to the right of a square then the next square down the diagonal is the previous square rotated by 90° anticlockwise.
Correct response: B - One anticlockwise turn in the right place.

Q.5. You will be presented with two sets of shapes labelled “Set A” and “Set B”. You will be given a test shape and asked to decide whether the test shape belongs to Set A, Set B, or Neither.

Q.

(a) Set A
(b) Set B
(c) Neither

Correct Answer is Option (a)

Set A: There are 5 squares in a diagonal. If there is a black circle to the right of a square then the next square down the diagonal is the previous square rotated by 90°clockwise.
Set B: There are 5 squares in a diagonal. If there is a black circle to the right of a square then the next square down the diagonal is the previous square rotated by 90° anticlockwise.
Correct response: A - Two clockwise turns in the correct place.

Q.6. You will be presented with two sets of shapes labelled “Set A” and “Set B”. You will be asked to select which of the four response options belongs to Set A or Set B.

Q. Which of the following test shapes belongs in Set A?
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)

Correct Answer is Option (a)
Set A: Starts from a black square. A line to a white circle splits into 2 – to a white shape and to a dark shape. A line to a shaded circle goes through to a single line followed by a white shape or a dark shape. The ends of the connected pattern are squares.
Set B: Starts from a black square. A line to a shaded circle splits into 2 – to a white shape and to a dark shape. A line to a white circle goes through to a single line followed by a white shape or a dark shape. The ends of the connected pattern are squares.
Correct response: A - Starts from a black square. A dark shape splits into a white shape which splits into two - a black square and a white shape. The white shape splits into two - a black square and a white square.

Q.7. You will be presented with two sets of shapes labelled “Set A” and “Set B”. You will be asked to select which of the four response options belongs to Set A or Set B.

Q. Which of the following test shapes belongs in Set A?
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)  

Correct Answer is Option (d)
Set A: Starts from a black square. A line to a white circle splits into 2 – to a white shape and to a dark shape. A line to a shaded circle goes through to a single line followed by a white shape or a dark shape. The ends of the connected pattern are squares.
Set B: Starts from a black square. A line to a shaded circle splits into 2 – to a white shape and to a dark shape. A line to a white circle goes through to a single line followed by a white shape or a dark shape. The ends of the connected pattern are squares.
Correct response: D - Starts from a black square. A dark shape splits into a white shape which splits into two - a dark shape and a white square. The dark shape splits into a black square

Q.8. You will be presented with two sets of shapes labelled “Set A” and “Set B”. You will be asked to select which of the four response options belongs to Set A or Set B.

Q. Which of the following test shapes belongs in Set B?
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)

Correct Answer is Option (a)
Set A: Starts from a black square. A line to a white circle splits into 2 – to a white shape and to a dark shape. A line to a shaded circle goes through to a single line followed by a white shape or a dark shape. The ends of the connected pattern are squares.
Set B: Starts from a black square. A line to a shaded circle splits into 2 – to a white shape and to a dark shape. A line to a white circle goes through to a single line followed by a white shape or a dark shape. The ends of the connected pattern are squares.
Correct response: A- Starts from a black square. A dark shape splits into a white shape and a dark shape. The white shape splits into a white square. The dark shape splits into a black and a white square.

Q.9. You will be presented with two sets of shapes labelled “Set A” and “Set B”. You will be asked to select which of the four response options belongs to Set A or Set B.

Q. Which of the following test shapes belongs in Set B?
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)

Correct Answer is Option (a)
Set A: Starts from a black square. A line to a white circle splits into 2 – to a white shape and to a dark shape. A line to a shaded circle goes through to a single line followed by a white shape or a dark shape. The ends of the connected pattern are squares.
Set B: Starts from a black square. A line to a shaded circle splits into 2 – to a white shape and to a dark shape. A line to a white circle goes through to a single line followed by a white shape or a dark shape. The ends of the connected pattern are squares.
Correct response: A - Starts from a black square. A dark shape splits into 2 – a white shape and a dark shape. The white shape splits into a dark shape which splits into two - a black square and a white square. The dark shape splits into two - a black square and a white square.

Q.10. You will be presented with two sets of shapes labelled “Set A” and “Set B”. You will be asked to select which of the four response options belongs to Set A or Set B.

Q. Which of the following test shapes belongs in Set B?
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)

Correct Answer is Option (b)
Set A: Starts from a black square. A line to a white circle splits into 2 – to a white shape and to a dark shape. A line to a shaded circle goes through to a single line followed by a white shape or a dark shape. The ends of the connected pattern are squares.
Set B: Starts from a black square. A line to a shaded circle splits into 2 – to a white shape and to a dark shape. A line to a white circle goes through to a single line followed by a white shape or a dark shape. The ends of the connected pattern are squares.
Correct response: B - Starts from a black square. A dark shape splits into two - a black square and a white shape. The white shape splits into a white shape which splits into a white square.

Q.11. You will be presented with two sets of shapes labelled “Set A” and “Set B”. You will be given a test shape and asked to decide whether the test shape belongs to Set A, Set B, or Neither.

Q.

(a) Set A
(b) Set B
(c) Neither

Correct Answer is Option (a)
Set A: All of the shapes in Set A have figures with curved edges. As the colour and number of figures in each shape varies, this is not part of the solution and so should be ignored.
Set B: All of the shapes in Set B have straight edges. As with Set A, the number of figures and their colour varies, and so should be ignored.
Correct Response: A - Both figures are circles and therefore have curved edges.

Q.12. You will be presented with two sets of shapes labelled “Set A” and “Set B”. You will be given a test shape and asked to decide whether the test shape belongs to Set A, Set B, or Neither.

Q.

(a) Set A
(b) Set B
(c) Neither

Correct Answer is Option (c)
Set A: All of the shapes in Set A have figures with curved edges. As the colour and number of figures in each shape varies, this is not part of the solution and so should be ignored.
Set B: All of the shapes in Set B have straight edges. As with Set A, the number of figures and their colour varies, and so should be ignored.
Correct response: C - Both shapes have straight and curved edges. The answer therefore is neither A nor B.

Q.13. You will be presented with two sets of shapes labelled “Set A” and “Set B”. You will be given a test shape and asked to decide whether the test shape belongs to Set A, Set B, or Neither.

Q.

(a) Set A
(b) Set B
(c) Neither

Correct Answer is Option (c)
Set A: All of the shapes in Set A have figures with curved edges. As the colour and number of figures in each shape varies, this is not part of the solution and so should be ignored.

Set B: All of the shapes in Set B have straight edges. As with Set A, the number of figures and their colour varies, and so should be ignored.

Correct response: C - One shape has curved edges and the other has straight edges. The answer is therefore neither A nor B.

Q.14. You will be presented with two sets of shapes labelled “Set A” and “Set B”. You will be given a test shape and asked to decide whether the test shape belongs to Set A, Set B, or Neither.

Q.

(a) Set A
(b) Set B
(c) Neither

Correct Answer is Option (b)
Set A: All of the shapes in Set A have figures with curved edges. As the colour and number of figures in each shape varies, this is not part of the solution and so should be ignored.
Set B: All of the shapes in Set B have straight edges. As with Set A, the number of figures and their colour varies, and so should be ignored.
Correct response: B - The shape is a hexagon and therefore has straight edges.

Q.15. You will be presented with two sets of shapes labelled “Set A” and “Set B”. You will be given a test shape and asked to decide whether the test shape belongs to Set A, Set B, or Neither.

Q.

(a) Set A
(b) Set B
(c) Neither

Correct Answer is Option (c)
Set A: All of the shapes in Set A have figures with curved edges. As the colour and number of figures in each shape varies, this is not part of the solution and so should be ignored.
Set B: All of the shapes in Set B have straight edges. As with Set A, the number of figures and their colour varies, and so should be ignored.
Correct response: C - Both shapes have straight and curved edges. The answer therefore is neither A nor B

Q.16. You will be presented with a series of shapes. You will be asked to select the next shape in series.

Q. Which figure completes the series?
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)

Correct Answer is Option (c)
Rule: The entire pattern within the box turns 90 degrees clockwise in each subsequent box.
The colour of the circles stay the same but the squares alternate between black and white in each subsequent box.
Correct Response: C - This is because the entire pattern has rotated 90 degrees clockwise, the colour of the circles has remained but the black square has turned into a white square and the white square has turned into a black square.

Q.17. You will be presented with a series of shapes. You will be asked to select the next shape in series.

Q. Which figure completes the series?
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)

Correct Answer is Option (a)
Rule: There are two groups of arrows: Group 1 (the six arrows around the sides of the box) and Group 2 (the two arrows in the centre of the box). In Group 1, the black arrow moves two spaces clockwise in each box. In Group 2, first the white arrow is on top, then both arrows turn black, then the black arrow is on top and then both the arrows turn black. Both the arrows turn black in every alternate box.
Correct response: A - This is because, the black arrow in Group 1 in the fourth box has moved two places clockwise to the top left arrow. The arrows in Group 2 have followed the pattern of one white and one black arrow following a box with two black arrows. The white arrow is on top. 

Q.18. You will be presented with a statement, involving a group of shapes. You will be asked to determine which shape completes the statement.

Q. Which figure completes the statement?
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)

Correct Answer is Option (b)
Rule: The arrows in the box face the opposite direction. The smallest shape in the left box increases in size and becomes the outermost, largest shape. The biggest shape in the left box reduces in size and places itself inside the biggest shape in the right box. A copy of the smallest shape in the left box turns upside down, changes its colour and places itself inside both of the shapes.
Correct response: B - This is because all of the arrows in the box are facing in the opposite direction. The black quadrilateral has increased in size and become the largest shape. The circle has reduced in size and placed itself inside the black quadrilateral. A copy of the black quadrilateral has been turned upside down, changed colour to white and placed itself inside the circle.

Q.19. You will be presented with a statement, involving a group of shapes. You will be asked to determine which shape completes the statement.
Q. Which figure completes the statement?
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)

Correct Answer is Option (c)
Rule: There are two large shapes, an outer shape and an inner shape. There are three small shapes inside the inner shape. The three small shapes move out of the two large shapes and move one place anticlockwise. The outer shape changes colour and moves inside the inner shape.
Correct response: C - This is because the three triangles have moved out of the two large squares and moved one place anticlockwise. The outer square has changed colour to black and moved inside the inner square.

Q.20. You will be presented with a statement, involving a group of shapes. You will be asked to determine which shape completes the statement.

Q. Which figure completes the statement?
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)

Correct Answer is Option (d)
Rule: The elements inside the square move outside the square. The elements outside the square, except the element at the top right-hand corner, move inside the square and then shift one place clockwise.
Correct response: D - This is because the elements inside the square have moved to their respective areas outside the square. The elements outside the square, except for the top right-hand corner have moved inside the square and shifted one place clockwise.